Aldemar Knossos Royal

We have just recently returned from this hotel. We booked as a last minute holiday as our original holiday was cancelled 9 days before departure due to covid 19. During difficult times the staff at this hotel could not be faulted at all, they went out of their way to help and make our time there enjoyable, always polite and very helpful. The day we left, this hotel was closing for the season due to covid 19. We booked a vip seafront room and was given as requested a high floor in block 800's, when we went into our room we realised it was not the room for us, the balcony was very small and did not get any sun, we like sitting out on the balcony. We contacted reception straight away and our room was changed and we were moved within 30 minutes. Was allocated a ground floor room with terrace leading straight onto the pool, this was a large size room, was very clean as was all the areas within this complex. Plenty of wardrobe and storage space. Rooms have air conditioning plus a ceiling fan operated by remote control.The sunloungers and parasol to the private pool are allocated with your room number(so no getting up at 6am with the towels to reserve your beds). The only downside was other people thinking they could use the beds and pool even thought it did state on the entrances that it is a private pool. Would recommend a member of staff checking the people using this area as we paid a higher price to have the benefit and privelage of this luxury. I did struggle with the food as I am vegetarian and found there was not a great deal of choice, towards the end of the holiday there was even less choice. The entertainment was very limited and would not have been my choice, there was no daytime activities and the small Greek Taverna within the complex (which we visited every night as it was so cosy) was closed early. The a la carte restaurants was well worth the visit. We did not see this hotel at its best under the circumstances and felt it had more to give and would have done at a different time. Hotel is quite a distance from town if you are not good at walking then would recommend a taxi(8euros) no bus service. If you want to leave the complex, there is not much to do nearby it is isolated. The beach is a shingle beach and quite difficult to get into, also a bit rocky. Overall great staff-- -great hotel--- and would like to return in better times

The hotel is brilliantly located for a visit to Knossos, Spinalonga and other eastern Crete locations. It is also only a 30-40 minute walk into the centre of town (follow the road down towards the fish restaurant and along the coast only heading inland to navigate around the Creta Maris hotel). Alternatively taxis are around 8 euros. There is a large central swimming pool for a decent swim or alternatively the sea. If the sea is too wavy directly infront of the hotel then you can head into the adjacent cove (to the right as you face the sea from the hotel beach). If you go past the church and opposite one of the hotel's restaurants there are some steps down to a platform or, further along, some small sandy beaches. This cove is where the glass bottomed boats take people from the main town to snorkel because the sea is so calm - well worth a swim. The staff at the hotel are all very friendly and helpful (a pleasure to share time with) and there are a few places to eat and drink on-site as well as the main restaurant. We enjoyed the sea front restaurant and the small taverna serving Greek coffee. Whilst the room which we had was a little dated, it was spacious, clean and well maintained. Perfectly adequate for the limited time spent we spent in it. A fantastic place to stay ...